Deep in Hell, there was a massive building, a structure similar to the castles and fortresses of old. Many of the rooms were locked, unused, or in varying states of disrepair. There was, however, one room that was well-kept, brightly lit, and even occasionally occupied. This room was the main hall of the building — of the "Citadel of Sin". It had been named in such a way because the Seven Sins, devils who were the rightful rulers of Hell, Lords and Ladies of the highest rank, used the Citadel for meetings. One such meeting was about to take place.
At a long, rectangular table sat a well-dressed man with thin-rimmed glasses. His skin was pale, his hair was black and neatly combed and trimmed. What was most striking about him, however, was the black tail that emerged from behind him, tipped in a sharp arrow shape. As well, two grey, segmented horns emerged from his temples. His hands were clasped together in front of his face, and his tail was lashing back and forth, perhaps subconsciously, from annoyance.
"They're late. Every one of them." He spoke quietly. He had no need to check a watch; it was something that had happened so many times before that he knew what time it was, down to the minute. "Disgraceful." After a few moments, he muttered under his breath "Vazios."
As if on cue, and with a flourish of black smoke, a new man stood in the hall. His hair was also black, but messy, and his eyes were a bright orange, slitted like a cat's, or perhaps that of a snake. His white dress shirt was unbuttoned to the second button, revealing part of his pale chest, and he had an impish grin on his face as he strode forward and pulled out one of the chairs, taking his seat.
"Apologies for my lateness, Deremos, my friend!" Vazios exclaimed jovially. "You must understand, my fans—"
"—are relentless and rabid. You have said this before. And I have responded, time and again, that it does not excuse your tardiness." Deremos replied, his voice icy. His eyes opened, revealing them to be bright orange and slit as well. "Please refrain from talking until the others arrive. I'm feeling the beginnings of a migraine."
As if he had not heard, Vazios murmured "Oh dear. Is Alcarus not with you on this fine day?"
"He never attends these meetings. And from our colleagues' lack of appearance, at the CORRECT time, I am less and less inclined to hold them." Deremos scowled, pushing up his glasses. Before Vazios could reply, Deremos said "Selena."
In the same fashion as Vazios had arrived, a woman appeared in a cloud of black smoke. Her black hair had been tied off in a long, simple braid. She wore a beige cardigan, blue jeans, and a lethal scowl. She said nothing, but took her seat.
"Neikona."
Another burst of smoke, another woman arrived. Her raven hair was untied, flowing down to her hips behind her. Her lips were a bright red, her skin a healthy, light hue. She wore what could only be seen as a sling swimsuit, revealing her stomach, legs, and ample cleavage. She pulled out a chair, and grinned, but her smile soured when she caught Deremos's eye.
"Aelera."
Another plume, another person. This one was a short girl with dark twintails, a tube top and bike shorts, all black. "'Sup, fuckers?" She gave a casual peace sign. In her other hand was what appeared to be a whole ham on a bone. She yanked out her chair and sat, leaning back and putting her boots up on the table as she took a monstrous bite of the meat.
"I have told you repeatedly to act in a way that befits a Lady of Hell. Remove your feet from the table and throw away that putrid mound of flesh you brought with you." Deremos growled.
"Get fucked, asshole." Aelera gave him a middle finger as she took another bite. "I'll kick your ass."
Deremos clenched his hands together tighter, and for a moment, the others thought he might actually rise and attack her. However, he instead said:
"Lunette."
The next person to arrive was also small in stature: a girl who looked to be about fourteen or fifteen. Unlike the others, her hair was a surprising blonde, flowing down past her thighs. She wore a simple white T-shirt and spats similar to Aelera's. Like Selena, she was silent as she took her seat. Her feet were bare, which was apparent when she mimicked Aelera's posture, resting her heels on the table. Her expression was bored, and she yawned.
"I believe that's everyone." Deremos announced. "Aren't you forgetting someone?" Aelera sneered.
"Rylitus will not be present. He has not been present at any of the other meetings, he will most likely not attend this one." Deremos responded coldly. "We proceed without."
"Tch. Whatever." She grumbled, biting into the meat once more, juice running down her chin.
With disgust, Deremos turned his gaze from her and looked to each of the other devils. "Let us begin." He cleared his throat. "Ahem. As you all know, morale has never been higher in Hell. Thanks, in no small part, to Avencia Co. and ASC. Enterprises. Our contributions have done much for Hell, no matter which field is inspected. Medical, recreation, relaxation, education. We are at the peak of our civilization at this very moment, but we can climb higher."
After a brief pause, as if Deremos was waiting for anyone to speak up, he continued. "We have been given a great opportunity to turn the Surface of Hell into a paradise for devils and imps alike. To make this place a utopia for all of devilkind, and I have many plans in place even as we speak, to make that dream a reality. And yet, there is more that could be done... that is not being done, despite my best efforts." He scowled.
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"Cut your boasting and get to the point." Selena hissed. Deremos glared at her, and continued "Point being, I am running Hell practically alone. And as we have discussed many a time, it is becoming taxing. Not just on my financial resources, but on morale itself. Devils are beginning to question whether I am the only one who gives a damn about this place, and our people."
"You are." Lunette piped up from the back, her tone flat and uninterested as she closed her eyes.
Deremos fell silent for a moment, as if not quite sure how to put his anger into words. Then he kept going. "And what a pathetic reality that is." He stood and slammed his hands on the table. "I called this meeting for one purpose and one purpose alone. We must discuss how ALL the Sins will be involved in Hell's future, moving forward."
"Save your breath. I don't care about this shithole, and neither should anyone else." Selena snarled. "We ought to be out terrorizing the surface world and taking it back."
"You are MORE than welcome to try, Selena." Deremos shot back. "Please. By all means, reclaim the surface all on your own. We shall see you back here, regenerated, within two weeks." Selena gritted her teeth at this, but fell silent. "We are outgunned, outmatched, and out of the game. It has come high time to accept that. All of you." Deremos turned to look at each Sin in turn. "The surface world is lost to us. At least, in terms of outright conquest. But my approach has proven more than successful, in both extorting mortals AND increasing the overall wealth and quality of life here, in Hell. For us. And even the angels cannot act upon my methods, for it would cause mass unrest and chaos in the mortal world." He scowled at the table. "I have offered you all, time and time again, high-level positions within ANY of my enterprises. I have offered to give you everything you could ever need. And my only request has been that you try to better Hell in your own way, in any way you can."
"We don't need your money." Neikona spoke up. "None of us are under any illusion that this place is anything, other than a prison. For us, and for everyone who has ever been wronged."
"But it doesn't HAVE TO BE!" Deremos bellowed. "I am offering you things that would be beyond any mortal's wildest dreams, and telling you that we can change this place for the better. You are creating your OWN prison, while the rest of Hell moves on. You are DETERMINED to see this place as nothing more than incarceration from scorn."
"Are you kidding?" Aelera laughed. "Help THEM? The idiots? The dregs, of the DREGS of society? Their suffering is a riot! We're better than them! Why the hell should we stoop to their level, when good ol' DAD made us champions?"
"Being one of the Seven Sins does not mean you simply sit and rest on your laurels." Deremos gritted his teeth. "We were chosen to be the paragons of what every devil should be. And as of yet, I am the only one who puts any effort into living up to that reputation."
"So, what, you want us to sit around and sing kumbaya with each other like a big, happy family? I don't fucking think so." Selena spat. "This civilization has done nothing but wrong me. Not the mortals. Not the angels. My 'fellow' fucking devils. I wouldn't give them the time of day, much less any of my money."
"Your experience is not universal, Selena." Deremos retorted. "Most of us have led semi-decent lives—"
"Lemme just stop you right there." Lunette interrupted, raising her hand above her head and pointing down. "I waged a war against Heaven for longer than you've been alive, Deremos. My 'sin' doesn't come from nowhere. It came because I got romped and smacked up and down the mortal world until I didn't care anymore. So you can cut the whole 'we have it so great' thing. Vazios is probably the only Sin who's had it good from the get-go, other than you. And his 'fans' are brainless lunatics who can't remember their own name when a strand of his hair falls on the ground."
"Then all the more reason to try and improve Hell!" Deremos argued. "For the wrongs that have been done to us, because devils are hurt, and frustrated and lost! And they take it out on each other, their own flesh and blood!"
"They made their choice." Neikona said calmly. "A person is not their environment. The devils who wronged us let this place consume them. They should have done better. Been better."
"That isn't fair." Deremos seethed.
"Life isn't fair." Aelera cackled. "We've got an asshole like you in charge. I'd have done things differently, but them's the breaks!"
"ENOUGH!" Deremos roared, his voice echoing through the hall. The others fell silent, each with hate in their eyes, save Vazios. For a time, no one said anything. Then the silence was broken by a loud snore from Lunette, who had fallen asleep, and Aelera giggled spitefully. "This is the final straw." Deremos murmured, his tone quiet and lethal. "I am no longer asking for you to help. I am ordering. If I am the only one running Hell, I consider the rest of you under my employ, regardless of a contract."
"How do you figure that, silver-spoon?" Aelera grinned. "I'm not doing a damn thing you say."
"You will." Deremos snapped. "Because I will use all of my financial and political influence to make your lives as miserable as possible. You will not be able to breathe without my say-so. I will use every form of blackmail imaginable to ensure you stay in line." At this, the other devils' eyes widened. The threat was not empty; Deremos was one of the richest and most powerful devils in Hell.
"You can't-" Aelera began.
"Don't dictate to me what I can and cannot do, Rosales." Deremos cut her off. "You are now under MY thumb. If I sense any resistance, any sabotage or kickback, I will ensure you regret it for the rest of your immortal lives. And if it happens again, I will kill you, here, in Hell, myself." For once, he grinned. "I don't like this batch of Sins. I'm sure our father can always make more. Hell must have leaders, after all."
No one replied. Everone but Vazios and Lunette had their faces drawn into ugly, loathing expressions. With disgust, one by one, they vanished the same way they'd come. Aelera paused, then kicked the table as hard as she could. It flew against the wall, breaking in two. Then she disappeared.
Only Vazios, Deremos, and Lunette remained. Vazios said cheerfully "Well, that might have gone better, old friend! But know that I shall always remain loyal to you. I truly believe what you're doing is the right thing. I'm sure the other Sins will warm to it eventually! They just haven't seen the light—"
Deremos glared at him, and Vazios corrected himself. "Er— I mean the dark, yet. Not to worry, I'm sure I can smooth things over! In fact, I'll go see if I can find one of them right now!" He chuckled nervously, before disappearing in a puff of vapor.
Deremos sat back down at his chair, sighing. He looked over to see Lunette slumped slightly in her chair, eyes closed, still snoring. With a wilting look, he muttered "Disgraceful."